Podcast Archives

Random Encounter 284 – Merry Game Awards!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on December 11, 2023

On this episode of Random Encounter, we chat all of the news from the 2024 Game Awards, and delve into two recent indie RPGs. First, The Game Awards came and went faster than the music playing off the winners! Baldur’s Gate 3 was the champion of the evening with Best Game, but Alan Wake 2 walked awa… Read More »

Retro Encounter 394 – Dragon Age: Origins Part I

Posted by Michael Sollosi on December 7, 2023

Dungeons and Darkspawn Dragon Age, a standout mini series from BioWare’s golden age of RPGs, is a blend of high fantasy, dark fantasy, politics, and dating sim that made a big splash in 2009. Two Grey Warden veterans and one Dragon Age neophyte form a Retro Encounter panel to take on the Darkspawn B… Read More »

Retro Encounter 393 – Bloodborne Part II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on December 5, 2023

I think I heard a shot. We finished Bloodborne! Four very enthusiastic hunters suffered through hunters, Great Ones, Street Sharks, and many other horrors to conquer this PS4 classic. So what are our favorite bosses? What the hell does Insight do? How many times do we mix up “Great Ones” with “Old B… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 123 – The Secret Trials of Hiroki Kikuta

Posted by Mike Salbato on December 4, 2023

It’s time for another composer spotlight on Rhythm Encounter, and this time we’re celebrating the works of Hiroki Kikuta. Many RPG fans know his work on the Mana series — particularly Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana — but there’s much more to Kikuta than many people know. From a PSone game that ne… Read More »

Random Encounter 283 – Super Mario RPG is Back!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on November 27, 2023

On the next Random Encounter, we delve into the vibrant worlds of Super Mario RPG and Persona 5 Tactica, and tackle the complex issue of redemption arcs in game publishing. First, Caitlin unpacks the Super Mario RPG Remake. Despite some minor frame rate drops and easy difficulty, does the game’s tim… Read More »

Retro Encounter 392 – Bloodborne Part I

Posted by Michael Sollosi on November 24, 2023

Bleeding its horror / Creating my structure Welcome, good hunter! Retro Encounter discusses a From Software Souls-like in detail for the first time, with the Playstation 4’s Bloodborne. Four panelists discuss the city of Yarnham, trick weapons, the Souls formula, and more in this episode about a blo… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 122 – The Sounds of Autumn: Pumpkin Spice II

Posted by Mike Salbato on November 20, 2023

We’re knee-deep in fall leaves in some parts of the world, though much like our spring themes episode earlier this year, what autumn (or fall) means to each of our panelists varies. Some of us chose songs based on cozy evenings with a hot drink, and some of us used our imaginations since not everyon… Read More »

Retro Encounter 64 – Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber Part II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on November 20, 2023

There are plenty of ways you can hurt a man / And bring him to the ground. Today we correct a podcast injustice, and publish Part 2 of Retro Encounter’s Ogre Battle 64 podcast duology. One podcast host with a lot of questions and two OB64 veterans with all the answers discuss the twisting story path… Read More »

Random Encounter 282 – Like a Fisherman

Posted by Jonathan Logan on November 13, 2023

On the next Random Encounter, we’re taking a deep dive into Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Star Ocean: The Second Story R, and Dave the Diver! First, Jono discovers the yakuza’s latest crisis in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Does this shorter Yakuza tale live… Read More »

Retro Encounter 391 – Essential Fan Translations

Posted by Audra Bowling on November 9, 2023

Back in the 90s and early 2000s, the localization of JRPGs was never a given. We RPG fans would often wait with bated breath, a copy of GamePlayers or Electronic Gaming Monthly in hand, hoping Squaresoft and other Japanese publishers would announce they were bringing their incredible games to the We… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 121 – Game-Defining RPG Music

Posted by Mike Salbato on November 6, 2023

We all know those big moments in RPGs. A place, a scene, or a pivotal battle that really makes the game and solidifies it in your memory. The scoring in those moments isn’t always what makes it work, but it often plays a crucial role. In many cases, the music really does make the moment, if not the… Read More »

Retro Encounter 390 – Superior Side Characters

Posted by Michael Sollosi on November 2, 2023

Only one person gets to be the hero. But is it always the right one? Just about every RPG has a main character that can be singled out as the hero of their story, but this is not about any of them. Quite often, there’s a companion or even an NPC that is more fun or interesting than a video game’s pr… Read More »

Random Encounter 281 – World of War Doggos

Posted by Jonathan Logan on October 30, 2023

On the next Random Encounter, we’re exploring the narrative horror depths of World of Horror and the deep strategic and colorful layers of Wargroove 2. First, Bob Richardson will guide us through World of Horror. With its unique 1-bit artistic style and roguelike narrative structure, does the game o… Read More »

Retro Encounter 389 – RPG Costume Party

Posted by Michael Sollosi on October 26, 2023

Boys and girls of every age / Wouldn’t you like to see something strange? Halloween is a time to experience scares, eat candy, and also celebrate fandom through costumes. Costume changes in RPGs can take the form of in-game bonuses, clever references, or expensive DLC, but it’s undeniable that a cla… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 120 – Party in the GBA

Posted by Michael Sollosi on October 23, 2023

From 2001 to 2005, the Game Boy Advance was Nintendo’s golden son. The Game Boy Advance brought gameplay depth and audio quality yet-unseen in a handheld gaming device, and gave us dozens of superb RPGs to enjoy over its run of success. Today, we celebrate the indigo blue machine with nine fabulous… Read More »

Retro Encounter 388 – Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure Part II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on October 19, 2023

Could you imagine? A puppet seeing another puppet- and then making it work? Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure is… cute. Energetic. Pleasant. But also sort of twisted? Is Cornet an earnest puppeteer or an unsuspecting necromancer? Do we want to play the rest of the trilogy now? In today’s episode… Read More »

Random Encounter 280 – The All-Star Lineup in RPGFan’s GOTY Bracket Battle

Posted by Aleks Franiczek on October 16, 2023

On this week’s Random Encounter, Zach steps in as your host to guide us through RPGFan’s 25th-anniversary special, Revisiting RPGFan Games of the Year: Bracket Battle. Joining Zach are Audra, Jimmy, and Aleks, each bringing their own perspectives on what makes a Game of the Year truly deserving of t… Read More »

Retro Encounter 387 – Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure Part I

Posted by Michael Sollosi on October 12, 2023

In Marl’s Kingdom, the girl saves the handsome prince. Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure is remarkable for a 1998 RPG, in that it subverts a few traditional fantasy tropes, has multiple character-specific side quests, and punctuates it plot points with musical numbers. It also kicked off a trilogy of RP… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 119 – RPG Dance Party!

Posted by Hilary Andreff on October 9, 2023

“All this energy’s got us inspired now/We couldn’t stop it, just set it free and DANCE!” That’s right! Today we’re taking some advice from Persona 4: Dancing All Night and getting our dance on. Spin-off dancing games aside, danceable and electronic beats have permeated RPG soundtracks for a long tim… Read More »

Retro Encounter 386 – Imagine Dragon Quest

Posted by Michael Sollosi on October 5, 2023

Through the Fire and Flames of Fate Dragon Quest hasn’t had a main series release since 2018, but in the last five years we’ve had spinoffs, adaptations, and announcements galore. Three Retro Encounter panelists are joined by special guest Matt from the Dragon Quest Slime Time! podcast to discuss th… Read More »

Random Encounter 279 – We Cannot Tell a Lie!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on October 2, 2023

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re diving into a piece of DLC that redeems one of gaming’s biggest disappointments, a Souls-like that cannot tell a lie, and a classic celebrating its 30th anniversary. First, Aleks guides us through the shadowy world of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Does… Read More »

Retro Encounter 385 – Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter Part II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on September 28, 2023

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why you had to hide away for so long. Where did we go wrong? Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter is a bleak, unforgiving game that grants players tremendous highs when they emerge victorious from a boss battle on the brink of death, and threatens brutal lows if you lose all y… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 118 – RPG Town Themes II: Urban Expansion

Posted by Mike Salbato on September 25, 2023

In summer of 2014, Rhythm Encounter episode 18 was all about town themes. Today, a coincidentally exact 100 episodes later, we finally revisit the topic with more favorite RPG town theme music. This time around, we have games that span quite a range, from the early 90s to just last month, with four… Read More »

Retro Encounter 384 – Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter Part I

Posted by Michael Sollosi on September 21, 2023

Don’t be a D-Ratio. Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter doesn’t want you to have an easy time. A remarkable blend of PS2 visuals, tactical combat, rogue-like elements, and horror atmosphere set to a Hitoshi Sakimoto soundtrack, the fifth game in Capcom’s signature turn-based RPG series is as unique as it… Read More »

Random Encounter 278 – The Farm Show

Posted by Jonathan Logan on September 18, 2023

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re delving into two recent farm-sim RPGs, exploring if they bring anything new to the genre. First, Niki takes us through the remaster/remake of the classic DS farm-sim Rune Factory 3 Special. Is there anything genuinely special about it, or should you stick with… Read More »

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